Flying boat



P 9 1931- o. w. JOHNSON 1,825,592

FLYING BOAT Filed March 27, 1930 4 Sheets- Sheet 1 3nncntor v 0. W Johmw Bu v-W Gttomcgil Sept. 29, 1931: o. w. JIOHNSON 1,325,592

FLYING BOAT Filed March 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwentor O. W Johrwow 1mm Sept. 29, 1931. o; w. JOHNSON 4 Sheet Sept. 29, 1931. I o. w. JOHNSON Y 3 1 I FLYING BOAT I Filed March 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZSnventor Q W Jolmdow attorneys.

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES OTHO WTJOHNSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND FLYING BOAT Application filed March 27, 1930. Serial No. 439,444.

The present invention relates to improvements in flying boats, and has for an object to provide an improved flying boat in which the safety of passengers flying over water will be assured, should a forced landing become necessary for any reason. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved flying boat or airplane built in two distinct units, including a boat 19 and a flying superstructure assembled together after completion and adapted to be separated in case of a forced landing.

A further object of the invention resides in providing an improved flying boat, from which the airplane portion may be quickly removed in case of forced landing on the water, the boat being equipped with mast andsail to permit making port.

With the foregoing and other objects in 29 view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved flying boat, constructed according to the present invention, with the parts shown in so assembled condition,

Figure 2 is a similar view, with parts broken away, and showing the two units partially separated,

Figure 3 is a side view as shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a front view of the same in the assembled condition,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 in Figure 3, and

Figure 7 is a miniature side view showing the superstructure completely separated from the boat, and the boat with the sail hoisted.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved device comprises a boat of the flying boat,

and an airplane superstructure attached tothe boat, but adapted to be separated therefrom in the event of a landing upon the water, whereby the heavy and cumbersome superstructure may be cast off to enable the boat to proceed with the passengers upon the water without interference and without the danger of capsizing or becoming swamped.

The hull of the boat is indicated generally at 10, and it may be made of metal, or any appropriate material in any desired design, but preferably having the forward and rear bulk heads 11 and 12, and the false bottom 13, providing chambers fore and aft, and in the bottom of the boat to be filled with buoyant gas or like material for counterbalancing any tendency of the boat to settle down in the water, owing to the great weight 6 of the superstructure, before such superstructure can be cast away. The boat hull is also provided at its sides with outwardly projecting portions 14, preferably curved,as indicated in Figure 3, for receiving gas for buoyancy.

Across the boat are placed beams 15 for receiving channel rails 16 extending longitudinally of the boat from the forward bulk head to a point beyond the stern. These channel rails 16 are adapted to receive the runners 17 carried by the superstructure. Braces 18 are also carried by the superstructure and are adapted to fit at their forward ends into sockets 19 carried by the boat adjacent the forward bulk head, and whereby the superstructure is held rigidly in place and against vibration. I

The braces 18 are curved rearwardly and inwardly at their rear ends and joined with the runners 17. At their forward portions, they are provided with numbers of sleeves 2O slidably mounted upon the braces and adapted to receive hold-down devices, as shown more particularly in Figures 5 and 6. The sleeves 20 are provided with openings to receive hooks 21 connected to turn buckles 22, and the turn buckles are secured to hooks 23 carried within the hull of the boat as by appropriate angle irons, the false bottom, or other parts.

The wing structure includes a substantially rectangular frame 2 1 supported upon the runners 17 and braces 18, and having an appropriate wing covering 25 thereover. we

tained by the hold-down Upon the wing is the support 26 for the motors 27 having the propellers 28.

The outer members of the wing structure receive cables 29, including turn buckles 30 for attachment to hooks 31 carried by the sides of the boat hull.

A lever 32 is shown more particularly in Figure 5 as being fulcrumed at 33 upon an appropriate part of the boat and having an upwardly extending detent part 34 adapted to engage the wing structure for the purpose of retaining the superstructure upon the boat hull until such time as the same is ready to be cast ofl.

The boat is also provided with spring clips 35 for receiving and holding the mast 36 and the boom and sail 37., A step bearing 38 is provided in the boat hull to receive the mast I when erected, as indicated in Figures 5 and 20' Any appropriate latch may be provided in conjunction with the lever 32 to hold same in position, or the same may be held by hand. The rudder of the boat is indicated at 39. l

In the use of the device, the boat and airplane supe structure are made independently, and united as indicated in Figures 1, 3 and 4. In this position, the parts are mainparts 21 and cables 29, and also, if desired, by the lever 32. The boom and mast are in the stowed position indicated in Figure 2, and the machine operates as a flying boat adapted to fly through the air and to descend upon the water, and the same will have a large passenger capacity. Should it be necessary for any purpose to make a forced landing, and the landing having been made, it become desirable to cast off the superstructure, this is accomplished by first securing or holding the lever 32 in the full line position shown in Figure 5, thereafter disconnecting the. hold-down cables 21 and 29, after which the lever 32 may be released, and due to the inclination of the channel rails 16, the superstructure Will slide off the rails and run overboard, thereby releasing several tons of dead weight. After this superstructure has been run overboard, the boat is converted into a sail boat by erecting the mast and sail in position, as indicated in Figure 7. The mast, whenin position, may also serve as a wireless mast. The rudders of the boat are provided for steering when in the water.

It will be obvious that many changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts could be made, which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean to limit the invention to such details, except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. An improved flying boat comprising a boat structure adapted to float on water, rails on the boat, an airplane superstructure having runners to slide on said rails, braces carried by the superstructure, sockets on the boat to receive said braces, and holddown means between the braces and boat.

2. An improved flying boat comprising a boat structure, an airplane superstructure, means for slidably mounting the superstructure on the boat, detachable adjustable holddown means connected between the superstructure and the boat, and a lever for holding the superstructure to the boat, pending the detachment of the holdsdown means.

3. An improved flying boat comprising a boat structure, an air-plane super-structure, rails on the boat, runners on the super-structure, braces carried by said super-structure, sockets on the boat to receive said braces, hold-down means between the braces and boat, spring clips for receiving and holding a removable mast, boom and sail, and a step bearing in the boat hull to receive the mast when erected.

4. An improved flying boat comprising a boat structure adapted to float on water, rails on the boat, an airplane superstructure having runners to slide on said rails, means for slidably mounting the superstructure on the boat, braces carried by the superstructure, sockets on the boat structure to receive said braces, detachable and adjustable hold down means connected between the superstructure and the boat structure, a lever for holding the superstructure to the boat structure pending the detachment of the hold down .means, and means for receiving and holding a removable mast, boom and sail.

OTHO W. JOHNSON. 

